Team PCC Mesekiu will enter the playoff round with a smile after besting a tough Ngermid Rivals, 85-81 Friday night at the end of the elimination round of the 2013 season of the Shell IP&E National Basketball League (NBL) played at the Palau National gym.

PCC Mesekiu started hot as they established a 25-18 lead in the opening tip off and then closed the first half with a 43-37. From there, PCC Mesekiu went all the way to score the win with Michael Jackson leading the way with 18 points as teammates Jordan Darrow and Seth Techitong chipped in 17 and 12, respectively.

On the other hand, Swingly Aguon topscored for the Rivals with 30 markers on the losing end.

In other games, Nationals beat the Breakers, 95-92; Idid Airwaves won over Ngermid Rivals; and Nationals defeated PCC Mesekiu, 79-69.

Schedules for the playoff round has not been announced yet as the team managers, coaches and team representatives were still in a meeting as of this writing.

Teams seeing action this season include defending champion FR Spoilers (sponsored by FR Construction), Peched (sponsored by Surangel’s Raw Surf Shop), 4x4 Wheelers (sponsored by Palau Trading Company), Ksau Imaging Solutions (sponsored by Surangel and Sons Company), Nationals 19 and Under (sponsored by IP&E Palau), WCC Hammers (sponsored by Williams Construction Company, Manny Adelbai and Bunker Ruluked), Medalaii-Stingers (sponsored by Neco Marine and Koror State Youth Council), Idid Airwaves (sponsored by Koror State Youth Council), Ngermid Rivals (sponsored by Koror State Youth Council), PCC Mesekiu (sponsored by Palau Community College) and Breakers (sponsored by Palau Trading Company and Senator Mark Rudimch).

The tournament, which is supervised by the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF), is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free program. Any violators will be banned from participating. For more information call Topps at 488-4491.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)